Captain Kathryn Janeway
Played by Kate Mulgrew:
First of all, I want you to know I've been a huge Kate Mulgrew fan since first seeing her as Mrs. Columbo. Right there and then I knew that if all else failed for our Voyager crew, at least Captain Kate could sleuth their way out of things! From what I can tell, the writers have done a good job at creating a televised version of the "3 Faces of Eve" - giving we viewers the weekly mystery of the "3 Faces of Janeway". Let me explain….. Mulgrew's character is one dynamic gal; giving us quite a variety when it comes to actions, reactions, and moods (the one consistent being her coffee that is), which seems to roughly translate into 3 different faces of Kate…..
Let's help you learn and grow
"Mama Kate""Captain Kathryn Janeway"
of the Starship Voyager"Enough chatter; time for
"Action Kate"
Mama Kate:
This is the part of Mulgrew's character which was super-developed by the addition of Jeri Ryan as "Seven of Nine". Barring the Harry Kim's "first time out" syndrome, Janeway does a pretty good job at maintaining Captain first, parent second, until….. the arrival of "her first Borg". Tom Paris's "rebellious child" character is an absolute angel next to this spawn of the collective! But, all it takes is a couple of "your nuts and highly illogicals" from her crew members, and nurturing Kate becomes the proud Mama of a new baby Borg!
Ryan's addition as 7 of 9 has undeniably opened the door of character growth for Janeway more than any other single character. She's taught Seven humanity; the nature of individuality; compassion (both abundant and lack there of..); and most importantly - what it is to be a family. The issue of family and parental concern never rang clearer than in the two-part episode "Dark Frontiers". It is in these two episodes that the issue of who is Seven's true family and mother are finally laid to rest. (Not to mention, the majority of us are relieved to find out that in-law problems are still going on in the distant future!) For those of you who haven't seen the episodes = this is a MUST SEE for all Voyager fans! Not only do we get Mama Kate; but we get Captain Janeway and Action Kate as well.
With the conclusion of last season (Equinox I), and a new one well underway, we are finally seeing the fruits of Mama Kate's labor. Seven is less questioning, more obedient; but deep down still a chip off the Mama Janeway block. Mama Kate might well have seen the passing of the terrible two's by this stage of the game, but don't write off the "Mama Kate" portion too quick…. You know what they say about teens!
Captain Kathryn Janeway:
This is the part of Mulgrew's character which is 100% Starfleet issued. (unlike the outfits they supply Seven of Nine with). Janeway is a Starfleet Officer before all else, and if you don't believe that, just check out how cool and comfortable she makes that Captain's chair look. (no matter how many times Commander Chakotay may sit in that seat, it just doesn't seem to fit….)
The label "Captain" just kind of rolls off your tongue when you're referring to Janeway, whether human; Klignon; Hydrogin; or Borg. And when she places one hand on that bridge rail, and the other on her hip - you know Captain James T. Kirk just got moved to the back seat. She knows Starfleet Regulations that I seriously doubt anyone in either quadrant could give two phasers about, and nothing screams Captain more than Janeway's never over-used "Captain Lingo"….
"Hail them."
"On Screen."
"Battle Stations."
"I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager."
"Shields up. Fire on MY mark!"
"Voyager is my ship!"
If ever there was a Captain in all of the Star Trek series' that just oozed command and authority, I'd have to go with Janeway. There's no doubt in my mind that she'd be the Captain of choice to serve under (even if you were Borg, and maybe thought her not the parent of choice). And if the writers had given Janeway just one ounce of the perpetual luck that our very first Captain James T. Kirk had; Voyager would have been home and back in the first season!
Action Kate:
Lastly, but by far the least, we take a look at Janeway's "Action Kate" personality. As an action lover, I for one never grow tired of seeing some serious kick-butt tactics from the Head of the Helm; and Janeway has slowly but surely been cornering the market. From the end of season one on I'd have to say, Kathryn Janeway has become the Sygourney "Ripley" Weaver of the Delta Quadrant.
She's all for dominant firepower when all else fails; whether it be a ship to ship battle, or hand to hand. You gotta love a Captain that doesn't mind shedding the Starfleet uniform; picking up her very own Phaser-Cannon; and starting to sweat a little! And ladies and gentlemen, let's say it all together now…. When Action Kate enters a room - she is definitely a FORCE!
One of the greatest examples of true "Action Kate" can also be found in the episode "Dark Frontiers" (If I've said it once, I'll say it a million times - it's a MUST see)!
Brief Synopsis of Dark Frontiers: We get the ever present Captain Janeway looking to score big with a seemingly disabled Borg Cube. Uh Oh! Signs of trouble, and her Baby Borg is starting to freak out.. this causes Mama Kate to jump into protection mode! But alas, something goes awry… it seems that Seven's in-laws are in town (Borg Queen), and she's indicating that it just might be time for
her first Borg to come home (can you imagine? how dare someone come and try to take my Borg back - Collective Indian giver!)Now, here's where things get good….. Mama Kate verses Mama Borg (an ugly yet amazingly accurate desciption). Action Kate is not
ever going to leave a crew member behind (at least not any of the ones they've paid alot of money to put into the opening credits) - let alone HER Borg. She's worked way to hard at getting Seven through the temper tantrum stage to give her back to the Collective, yet alone, a pushy mother-in-law who doesn't call her Captain."We're going to get her back!" (entire crew rolls their eyes - but they all know it's useless - Mama Kate is pissed, and she's about two commercials from morphing into Action Kate)!
Finally the show-down (Clint Eastwood western music inserted here). Action Kate has arrived, with Mama Kate eyes only for her Baby Borg. She's either "robbing the Cube" and bringing her Baby Borg home, or no one's gonna have her!
Now it's Mama Borg's turn to be pissed, but Seven knows who's going to be paying her college tuition in the end - "Mama Kate, take me home - I've always been more of an only child type anyway!" (not to mention a Mama's girl through and through)! Baby Borg tells Mama she's glad she came back for her, and Mama Kate tells Baby Borg it's time to go to sleep (or regenerate as all Baby Borg's do). "Sweet Dreams!" Mama Kate says. All is well in the Delta Quadrant now - the Prodical Borg has returned.
Dark Frontiers gives us some of the greatest Voyager moments yet - and if you never saw the "3 Faces of Janeway" before - you will after these episodes.
In Summary…..
Kate Mulgrew has found herself into one of the greatest female leads written for television in the last 10 years, and I think it's only fair to say that Voyager has found itself one of the greatest actresses for sheer presence in a long time. The combination of Janeway's three distinct roles makes interaction with all the other characters limitless; and for me, an episode by episode mystery of just who we're gonna see.
Each character adds a lot to the show; but for now, the only other character I have summarized is Jeri Ryan's Seven of Nine. It's been with her addition that I've really seen all the Voyager characters take off; but especially Janeway.
